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The 2017-18 budget signifies a critical step forward for early learning

LAUP, a leading early learning organization, addressed the impact of California’s approved fiscal year 2017-2018 budget. In effect July 1, the budget indicates significant progress for early learning, but the organization stresses their work on behalf of local families is far from over.

“We commend Gov. Brown and California lawmakers for updating child care subsidy eligibility requirements (income limitations), a step in the right direction for ensuring the success of our state’s earliest learners,” said Scott Hippert, CEO, LAUP. “While we are motivated by today’s actions, we cannot overlook the path ahead. LAUP will continue to advocate at the state and federal level to ensure all children statewide receive the high quality early learning they deserve.”

Early Education highlights of the 2017-2018 Fiscal Year budget include:

$25 million to update decade-old child care income eligibility requirements, and to adopt a 12-month eligibility policy for subsidized child care to enable continuity of care

Honors commitment made in the FY16-17 budget to add nearly 3,000 full-day state preschool slots and to raise provider reimbursement rates

LAUP highlighted key budget priorities in meetings with legislators and during policy committee hearings leading up to yesterday’s actions. In the coming year, the organization will focus its state advocacy efforts on funding the shortage of early learning opportunities for families with infants and toddlers, and the unfulfilled “preschool promise” to provide preschool access for all low-income families.

“We’re working to ensure that every child in California has access to high quality early learning opportunities that will help them succeed in school and life, said Elsa Jacobsen, Director of Public Policy, LAUP. “We look forward to working alongside the Governor, state legislators and fellow early learning advocates to make this vision a reality.”